Refrigerator hydrator and movable cover



Nov. 22, 1955 M. J. SCHRADER 2,724,623

REFRIGERATOR HYDRATOR AND MOVABLE COVER Filed March 20, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet l WWJINVENTOR.

Nov. 22, 1955 M. J. SCHRADER REFRIGERATOR HYDRATOR AND MOVABLE COVER 3SheetsSheet 2 Filed March 20, 1951 INVENTOR.'

ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 22, 1955 M. J. SCHRADER 2,724,628

REFRIGERATOR HYDRATOR AND MOVABLE COVER Filed March 20, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 22, 1955 REFRIGERATOR HYDRATOR AND MOVABLECOVER Milford J. Schrader, Greenvillc,:Mich., assignor to GibsonRefrigerator Company, Greenville, Mich, a corporation of MichiganApplication March 20, 1951, Serial No.216,627

p 6 Claims. (Cl. 312-27il) This invention relates toarefrigeratorhydrator and movable cover.

This invention relates to household refrigerators, and especially to aswinging hydrator bin or bins for household refrigerators. The inventionis particularly useful in connection with householdrefrigerators havingrefrigeratedstorage space extending substantially from the top to thebottom of the refrigerator and having in the lower rear portion thereofan offset within which the compressorof a well-known refrigerator systemis placed. In this preferable construction, the swinging hydrator bin orbins occupy the refrigerated storage space forward of the aforementionedoffset and provide therein accessible means for the storage offoodstuffs requiring high humidity refrigeration.

It will be understood that the swinging hydrator bins may be formed indifferent shapes and may be used in other locations within a householdrefrigerator and that similar bins may be used in storage cabinets otherthan refrigerators. t

In the operation of the movably-mounted hydrator bins, it is of greatimportance that the lid or cover of each bin be in place upon thehydrator bin when the same is moved into the refrigerated space. Sincethe bin often contains bulky articles, it is easy for the lid to bemisplaced upon the bins and there is often a failure to properly closethe bin. The result is excessive dehydration of the vegetables or othermaterials in the bins. It also happens that when the bin is whollyremoved from the refrigerator cabinet, the lid is left off when the binis returned to position, thus resulting in excessive dehydration.Further, when the lid is left in position and the bin is swungrearwardly into the refrigerated space, the lid often strikes an objectwithin the space and is tilted or swung out of position to expose thebin therebelow.

An object of this invention is to provide a hydrator bin structurewithin a refrigerator in which the lid is maintained withinthere'frigerated space and is automatically placed in position when thebin is swung to closed position. A further object is to provide ahydrator structure for a refrigerator in which the lid for the hydratorbin is moved in a generally vertical plane to permit the removal of thebin in open or exposed condi tion to provide ready access thereto whileupon the return of the bin the lid automatically moves into position forclosing the bin. A still further object is to provide a structure inwhich a lid is supported in the upper portion of the refrigerated spacefor generally vertical movement, whereby, when the hydrator bin is swungto a position within the space, the lid is raised and then dropped uponthe hydrator bin to close the same. A still further object is to providein such a structure means for limiting the downward movement of thehydrator lid and further for supporting it at an angle to permit the lidto be automatically raised when the hydrator bin is swung inwardly. Yetanother object is to equip a hydrator lid with antifriction means forengaging the hydrator bin to effect 3 marring the same.

raising and lowering of the. lid without scratching or Yet anotherobject is to provide an improved hydrator bin structure with novelhinging means, permitting the bin to be easily removed for cleaning,etc. and novel lid-supporting means for permitting relative movement indifferent planes of the hydrator bin and lid.

it Other specific objects and advantages will appear as. the

specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in an illustrative embodiment by theaccompanying drawing,.in which- Figure 1 is a front view in elevation, aportion of the refrigerator near the bottom being broken away to showthe hydrator bins; Fig. 2, a side view in elevation, a portion of therefrigerator near the bottom being cut away to expose the side of thehydrator bin; Fig. 3, a perspective view showing the bin, lid thereforand rack or tray thereabove; Fig. 4, a broken side elevational viewshowing the hydrator bin and means for supporting the lid thereon, aportion of the structure being shown in section; Fig. 5, a view similarto Fig. 4 but showing the bin in its outer or open position; and Fig. 6,a sectional view of the end of the tray opposite the end shown in Fig. 5and showing the supporting means for that end of the lid.

In the illustration given, designates a refrigerator provided in itsbottom or lower portion with an offset wall or partition 11 providing arear compartment 12. The space in the rear compartment 12 may beoccupied by refrigerating machinery, and since such structure is wellknown, a detailed description is herein believed unnecessary.

Forward of the partition or wall 11 is a refrigerated space 13, as shownbest in Fig. 2, and in this space are mounted the hydrator bins 14. Eachof the bins is pivotally mounted at its outer forward corner so as topermit the bin to swing along an arcuate path out of and into therefrigerated space. The lower portion of the refrigerator is equippedwith a pivot pin 15 which enters a recess 16 in the lower portion of thebin 14, as more clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Mounted in the refrigerator above the space 13is a rack or tray 17 whichprovides a shelf above space 13; The tray 17 is provided with adepending pivot pin 13 which is received within an arcuate slot 19formed in the corner portion 20 of the bin 14. The slot for receivingthe pivot pin 18 is more clearly shown in Fig. 3 and the arcuateformationof the slot is such as to permit the pin to be disengaged fromthe slot when it is desired to remove the bin bodily for cleaning, etc.In normal operation, the pin lies within the inner portion of the slotand serves as an ordinary pivot to permitinward and outward swinging ofthe bin.

The bin 14 is provided preferably at its forward side with ahorizontally-extending apron 21 and at its rear side with a similarapron extension 22. The bin may be formed of plastic or other suitablematerial and the structures 21 and 22 may be formed of metal, plastic,or any other suitable material.

Above the bin 14, as shown best in Fig. 3, is a lid or cover 23, whichis preferably formed of plastic but may be formed of any other suitablematerial. The tray is shown equipped with a border portion 24 and witharcuate ribs or track ridges 25 adapted to be engaged by the binportions 21 and 22 when the lid is being raised, as will be laterdescribed.

integrally formed with the lid 23 at one end is a boss 25 provided witha deep recess 27. The recess 27 of the lid 23 is engaged by a hook orguide member 28, preferably welded at its upper end to the rack 17. Thehook serves the double purpose of supporting the lid, as illustratedbest in Fig. 5, while at the same time guiding the tion illustrated inFig. when the bin'14i'sswungttroutbn position;

It will beundrstbeddhat the melt orslielf lfl maybe of any suitalil'econstruction, being iinperforat'e or' perforate, as desired; andthe-structureis sosecured within the refrigerator as to provide supportsfor the pin 18- and the guide-menibers=28 and' 322 Y 7 Operation in the:operation ofistructure, when. one of: the bins 14 is. swung: outwardly;the: hint is exposed: at its top so thatthe vegetables, fruits; etc;therein may. be-readily removed. The lid or cover 23" remains within.the: refrigerated: space and: occupies; the" tilted. position. shown inFig. It is supported: in. thisv position. by the members- 28 and 31.After the vegetableszhavet been. removed or. replaced within the bin,the housewife pushes the bin rearwardly in'to theirefrigerated space:The hydrators' top portion engages the-tilted lid 23 and" asitswingstinan: arcuateplane, travels along. the thin ridges 25v of'thelid, causing:the lid to-be slightly raisedt. When the: bin-has reached its final?position within the' refrigerated space, the lid 23 rests squarelyacross the top of the. bin 14,. as:- illustrated best in Fig; 4, andforms a closure: therefor. The tilting; of. the lid- 23 is not onlyeffective in providing acam for raising the lid when the hydrator bin isswung. inwardly, but the tilting; of the bin further exposes the. innerportion of. the bin, asshownmore clearly in Fig. 5, since the forwardportion of the lid swings upwardly to at position immediately under theshelfor rack- 17'.

While I have shown a hydrator constructed with a. specific form of pivotmember, it. will be understood. that the pivoting or means for m-ovablysupporting. the. bin may be varied widely. The. bin may be guided;for-slid-- ing' movement, ormoved upon horizontal pivots, or constructedin a variety of ways while still. raising; and loweringthe lid forthe-entrance of the bin into the refrigerated space'and for the'closure'of. the lidvthereon. I have found that the form. of bin. illustrated isparticularly efiicient in that. the short arc of. movement provided bythe pivot: structure is: highly effective in raising the lid gently andsmoothly as the bin swings inwardly anda thenv allowing. the lid to seatfirmly uponthe bin.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set. out a specificstructure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating anembodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the details ofstructure so shown may be varied widely by those skilled in the art'without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a cabinet structure providing a storage space, a bin having anopen top and being mounted for horizontal swinging movement into andout. of said. space, and a. cover for said bin supported in the upperportion of said space for both vertical and pivotal movement andbeingsupported at off-center points so as to cause said cover to tiltupwardly at its forwardend when said bin is swung outwardly, the pivotalaxis of said cover being below the topofsaid binwhen the bin is swungout of said' space, said cover being equipped with a plurality ofspaced-apart ribs extending generally along the path of movement of saidbin, said bin being provided adjacent the open top thereof with borderportions extending laterally from the bin and being adapted to engagesaid ribs during movement of. the bin and toform' a seal Withithfl"edges of the cover when said bin is-within said space.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said bin, is supported upon apivotal. axis extending through a corner portion of the bin.

3. In a refrigerator cabinet having a storage space, a bin mounted for.horizontal movementrinto;anttoutrofsaid space, a cover mounted withinsaid. space and being adapted to form a sealing closure about said binwhen the bin is within said space, shelf means above said cover, andmeans for supporting said cover upon said shelf, said means comprising aguidemember securedto said shelf means and depending therefrom, a bosscarried by said cover and being'provided' with a recess for receiving:said guide member therein; a l-J-shaped' member secured to said shelfmeans and having' upwardly-extending legs; and'bosses provided by saidcover andhaving wells-therein aligned with said l'egs and receivingthesametherein.

4-. Thestructure of claim 3 in which said guidemember is arcuate and-isequipped with a free end portion extend ingupwardly and into the recessprovided by said first"- mentionedboss.

5. The structure of claim 4 inwhich said second-menti'oned bossesarespaced apart andinwhich said wells extend generally along the path ofmovement of said bin:

6. In a refrigerator cabinet having acompartment therein, a shelfmounted withins-aid compartment and providing a storage spacetherebel'ow, an open-topped binmount'ed within said space about averticall y oriented pivotal axis for swinging movementinto and out ofsaid space, a cover mounted within said space and bei'ngadapted to: restupon and being supported primarily by said bin when the same is withinsaid space, and means forsupport-- ing said cover for pivotal andvertical movement, said means comprising a boss alongone side ofsaid'coverand providing an upwardly extending recess elongatedtransversely of said bin, an arcuate' guide member carriedby said shelfand having an upwardly-turned endportionreceivable within said recess,apair of bosses provided by said: cover and being spaced aparttransversely along said bin, said bosses each having anupwardlyextending well therein elongated longitudinally of said bin, anda- U- shaped member-secured to said shelfand having upwardlyextending.vlegs alignable with and receivable within said wells, saidfirst-mentioned boss and said second-mentioned bosses providing thepivotal axis for said cover and being oifset from the center of thecover to cause the forward portion of'the' cover to tip-upwardly whensaid bin is withdrawn. from said space, said guide member: and said legsbeing freely movablevertically respectively within said recess andwells.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS217,563 West July 15, 1879 43 83,486 Pearson et al Oct, 14,, 1890'601,921 Whitted Apr.. 5,, 1.898. 740,677 Monsen. et al' Oct.. 6,, 1.903.988,594 Ralston Apr. 4,, 1911 2,517,725 Schweller Aug. 8, 1950.2,644,737 Davis July 7,v 1.953.

